Camera Assembly With Full Image-Circle Coverage for Flexible Framing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing camera assemblies in electronic devices, such as laptops, struggle with limited aspect ratios due to camera sensors that do not fully capture the image circle, requiring device rotation for different capture modes, which is cumbersome and reduces image quality.
Innovation Solution
A camera assembly design where the camera sensor encompasses the entire image circle, allowing cropping in both X and Y directions to adjust aspect ratios without physical device rotation, using CMOS camera sensors to capture all image regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the camera sensor is smaller than the image circle to reduce device size, then the device becomes more compact, but the aspect ratio flexibility and image quality are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having the camera sensor capture only the necessary portion of the image circle corresponding to the desired aspect ratio. The sensor is positioned to receive light within a specific angular range (e.g., 45-degree field of view) rather than capturing the entire image circle, allowing flexible aspect ratios without requiring the sensor to be as large as the full image circle would demand.
2Device complexity
If the camera sensor does not encompass the entire image circle, then the device structure is simpler, but device rotation becomes necessary for different capture modes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamics by making the camera sensor's active capture region adjustable rather than fixed. The sensor can dynamically change which portion of the image circle it captures from, allowing different aspect ratios (landscape, portrait, angled) without physical rotation of the device. This dynamic reconfiguration of the capture area provides operational flexibility while maintaining a simple fixed sensor structure.
3Measurement precision
If the camera sensor is positioned to capture the entire image circle, then image quality and resolution are improved, but the device requires rotation for different aspect ratios
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by optimizing the camera sensor's position and angular coverage to capture specific regions of the image circle with high quality. Rather than requiring the sensor to encompass the entire image circle, the sensor is positioned to receive light from specific angular ranges (e.g., 45-degree field of view) that correspond to desired aspect ratios, providing high resolution for each specific capture mode without needing full circle coverage.
4Volume of moving object
If the camera sensor covers only a portion of the image circle, then the device is more compact, but focal length magnification occurs when cropping
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by having the camera sensor capture a wider angular field of view (e.g., 45 degrees) than traditionally used, which provides more image data upfront. This preliminary capture of additional image information allows for cropping to different aspect ratios without the severe quality degradation and focal length magnification that would occur with smaller sensor coverage, effectively preparing the image data in advance for various cropping needs.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables capture of images with improved resolution and quality by utilizing all camera sensor pixels, eliminating the need for device rotation and reducing focal length magnification.
Implementation Method 1
a lens that forms an image perimeter that defines an image circle
Implementation Method 2
a lens that forms an image perimeter that defines an image circle
Implementation Method 3
a camera sensor aligned with the image circle and configured to obtain image data
Data Source
AI summary
An electronic device is provided that includes a camera assembly. The camera assembly can include a lens that forms an image perimeter that defines an image circle, and a camera sensor aligned with the image circle and configured to obtain image data. The camera sensor may encompass the image circle to cover the image circle entirely with the camera sensor. The electronic device can also include a memory to store executable instructions, and one or more processors, when implementing the executable instructions, configured to generate a captured image from the image data obtained from the camera sensor.